Feature Pack For A Portable Device

ABSTRACT

A feature pack coupled to and interfaced with a cellular phone, which is able to relieve the cellular telephone from performing tasks associated with several of battery power draining features of the cell phone thus preserving the power of the battery of the cellular telephone. The feature pack, while interfaced and coupled to the cellular telephone, uses its own circuitry and battery to perform these tasks. The feature has a compartment within which the cellular telephone (or other device with which it is coupled) is disposed. The feature pack has circuitry separate from the coupled device, but is able to use audio and other types of signals from the coupled device to perform such tasks as using speakers, microphones, recording voice and audio signals and communicating with external devices via a Blue Tooth interface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the field of electronicdevices. In particular, the present invention provides a feature packcoupled to a portable device to enhance many of the features of thedevice during operation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the past decade, manufacturers of portable communication devices(e.g., smart cellular phones, tablets, laptops, notebooks) have beendesigning and manufacturing these devices with increasing amounts of newfeatures. While many of the relatively new features are quite useful,the main and most important features are the standard features thatexisted in the earliest version of such devices and are still residentin virtually all of these devices. These features are a device's abilityto provide relatively high quality of voice signal processing, theability to play music and the ability to record voice and audio signals.In particular, the audio output power and the quality of the audiooutput signals when playing music, or when conversing in a telephoneconversation or recording a conversation during a meeting are keyfeatures.

It is well known by many users of such portable communication devicesthat the constant use of such main features necessarily results in thedrainage of battery power. A portable device operating under reducedbattery power inevitably leads to a reduction in the quality of voice,audio related features and other features whose usage tend tosignificantly drain the battery power of such devices. Also, the rangeof the volume of the output speakers are necessarily lowered, whichmakes it difficult to use the device as a speaker phone especially forusers who are hearing impaired. Even though the batteries can berecharged to full level (assuming the user has his/her battery chargeravailable), in many cases users are caught with low battery power duringinopportune moments such as during important phone calls. Further, afterdiscovering a relatively low battery level, users will often opt torefrain from listening to music and/or opt to switching off the deviceto save battery power. Neither one of these two options is desirable aseach severely limits the usefulness of such devices and are in conflictwith the main reasons for which they were designed.

It is therefore a desire of users of such devices to use the featuresprovided by such devices without having to drain the battery power thusavoiding lowered quality of operation of such devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a feature pack device which when coupledto and interfaced with a portable device is able to perform a pluralityof tasks typically performed by the portable device thus helping topreserve the energy level of the battery of the portable device. Thefeature pack comprises circuitry controlled by a microprocessor that canbe interfaced with a user via user accessible actuators where suchcircuitry and associated components are able to process the signals fromthe portable device to perform the plurality of tasks. The feature packof the present invention uses a power source for its circuits,components, and user accessible actuators that are separate and distinctfrom any power source used by the portable device.

In one embodiment, the feature pack of the present invention comprises acompartment within which a cellular telephone can be snugly disposedallowing said telephone to couple to and interface with the featurepack. The cellular phone provides a plurality of signals to the featurepack, which processes said signals using a plurality of circuitry,electrical and electronic components and user accessible actuators allof which are separate from the cellular telephone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the present invention will become moreapparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken inconjunction with the drawings in which like reference numbers indicateidentical or functionally similar elements.

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of one embodiment of the device ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the rear view of the device of FIG. 1 with various useractuators attached thereon.

FIG. 3 is a left side view of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the circuitry for the embodiment of thefeature pack shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the feature pack of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a left side view of the device of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides a feature pack device, which when coupledto and interfaced with a portable device is able to perform a pluralityof tasks or many of the features typically performed by the portabledevice thus helping to reduce the burden on the battery of the portabledevice and, therefore, helps to preserve the energy level of the batteryof the portable device. The feature pack device comprises useraccessible actuators coupled to a plurality of circuits to facilitateprocessing of received portable device signals and to perform tasksheretofore performed by the portable device. The circuitry of thefeature pack is controlled by a microprocessor that can be interfacedwith a user via the user accessible actuators where such circuitry andassociated components are able to process signals from the portabledevice to perform the tasks and/or provide the features previously doneby the portable device, but which are now done by the feature pack. Theperformance of tasks and/or provision of features by the feature packusing its own power source separate and distinct from any power sourceof the portable device where such tasks and features were heretoforedone by the portable device significantly relieves the power burden onthe portable device. The portable device may be electrically,electronically and mechanically coupled to and interface with thefeature pack which performs many of the features using its own powersource (e.g., a rechargeable battery), that it uses to power its owncircuits and components to process voice, audio, and other types ofsignals that would normally be processed by the portable device. Thefeature pack may be coupled and interfaced with the portable device sothat both devices may be physically combined into a unit where thefeature pack is able to receive signals from the portable device.

In one embodiment, the feature pack of the present invention comprises acompartment within which a portable device such as a cellular telephonecan be snugly disposed allowing said telephone to couple to andinterface with the feature pack. The cellular phone provides a pluralityof signals to the feature pack, which processes said signals using aplurality of circuitry, electrical and electronic components and useraccessible actuators all of which are separate from the cellulartelephone and all of which are powered by the battery of the featurepack. Thus, the feature pack, using its own battery, takes on the burdenof many of the processing tasks that would normally be performed by theportable device thus reducing the burden on the battery of the portabledevice.

One embodiment of the feature pack of the present invention is shown inFIGS. 1-4. In particular, FIGS. 1-4 depict a feature pack that isdesigned to couple and/or interface with a portable electronic deviceand perform many of the features of the electronic device. In theembodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the feature pack shown is designed tointerface and/or couple with a portable smart cellular telephone havinga particular physical configuration. It will be understood, however,that the feature pack of the present invention can be designed fordifferent types of devices including portable electronic devices andother electronic devices; that is, the feature pack is not limited to beused only with a smart cellular telephones as discussed with respect toFIGS. 1-4. The embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4 is used for illustrativeand ease of explanation purposes and does not, in any manner, limit theusage of the feature pack to portable cellular telephones. Devices suchas laptops, notebooks, tablets can also be used with the feature pack ofthe present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a front view of an embodiment of thefeature pack 100 of the present invention designed for a cellulartelephone. The feature pack 100 has a compartment 104 in which acellular telephone (not shown) can be disposed. Feature pack 100 isdesigned so that a cellular telephone disposed in compartment 104 fitssnugly within said compartment. Further, the cellular telephone isassumed to have a female RCA jack positioned so that when the phone isplaced in compartment 104, male RCA jack 300 is in alignment with thecorresponding female jack of the cellular phone and a connection ismade. Similarly, male connector 330 of the feature pack aligns with acorresponding female connector (not shown) of the cellular phone. Maleconnector 330 is connected to external charger cord 416 whose end has anAC (Alternating Current) plug and charging circuit that provides DC(Direct Current) power to the feature pack 100 and to the cellulartelephone disposed within compartment 104. Feature pack 100 further hasmicrophone 302 and telephone speaker 350. Also, feature pack 100 has arelatively small chamber within the rear surface of compartment 104where a memory card 338 can be disposed. A metal strip 102 is fused intothe material (e.g., rubber, silicone) used to construct the body offeature pack and can possibly be used for an additional antennacomponent for the feature pack. The material can be layered and voids(not shown) can be formed between the layers of the material whereinelectronic circuits along with their components may reside. The featurepack may also have a relatively large void for storing its battery.Other components of the feature pack of the present invention are shownin FIG. 2.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown a rear view of the feature pack100 of FIG. 1. In particular feature pack 100 has openings 102 and 116,which may be used as access locations to control buttons and other userinterface actuators of the cellular phone when snugly fit withincompartment 104 of the feature pack of the present invention. Openings112 and 118 are other examples of the feature pack 100 of the presentinvention providing access to user actuators (e.g., buttons, slidingswitches) of the cellular telephone when disposed in compartment 104 ofthe feature pack of the present invention. A control button or a useraccessible actuator of the feature pack 100 is an electrical orelectro-mechanical component of the feature pack of the presentinvention designed to be used, manipulated, operated or otherwisephysically activated by a user of the feature pack to input signals, setconditions or otherwise alert the feature pack of occurrences of aphysical condition initiated by the user. A metal strip 108 embedded inthe material of the feature is available for use as an antenna for thefeature pack or an antenna that can be coupled to an antenna of theportable device disposed in compartment 104. As will be discussedherein, the feature pack 100 has several user accessible actuatorslocated on its rear surface whereby such actuators are directlyelectrically connected, coupled or otherwise interfaced to circuitrylocated within the layers of material of the feature pack body 100.

Sliding control actuator (or volume control actuator) 130 has a slidingbutton, which can be slid right or left by a user to control the volumeof speakers 348 and 346, which may be stereo speakers. Volume controlactuator 130 can be used to control the volume of speaker 350 (seeFIG. 1) located at the front of the feature pack. Thus, depending on thespeaker being used, volume control actuator 130 can directly control thevolume of the selected speaker based on the manipulation of actuator 130by a user. Actuator 132 may be a two-position actuator that allows auser to select which set of speakers he/she wants to use. In particular,the user may select to use speaker 350, say for a telephone call, orspeakers 346 and 348 when listening to music originating from thetelephone or from an external device in communication with the featurepack 100 via a blue tooth connection as will be described infra Audiorecording actuator 114 is another type of sliding actuator; thisactuator may be a three-position sliding actuator (Play-Off-On) wherebya user of the feature pack 100 can play recorded voice or audio signalsstored in memory card 338 (see FIG. 1). Accordingly, a user can alsorecord incoming voices, incoming audio signals, his/her own voice andany other audio signals that can be received by the feature pack or anyother voice/sounds within the hearing vicinity of the feature pack user.The feature pack, of course, has a microphone 302 (see FIG. 1) that maybe used for voice and/or sound recordings.

Continuing with the various actuators shown in FIG. 2, there is shown atwo-position actuator 124 that can be used by a user of the feature packto switch ON or OFF a Blue Tooth circuit of the feature pack. Thefeature pack of the present invention has a Blue Tooth circuit (whichwill be discussed infra; see FIG. 4, circuit 332) that can receivevoice, audio and other types of signals from an external device pairedwith the feature pack 100 of the present invention. Also, the Blue Toothcircuit is able to transmit voice, audio and other types of signals tothe external device. The term “Blue Tooth” is a well-known term thatrefers to a telecommunication standard developed to allow mobile orfixed devices to communicate with each other over relatively shortdistances using specifically defined electromagnetic signals.

Actuator 128 is a two-position switch and is used to switch ON or OFF atone generator circuit (see FIG. 4, circuit 336), which is used by auser when recording a telephone call in order to comply with any lawrequiring that the user disclose to the party to whom he/she is talkingthat the call is being recorded and to periodically insert tones ofcertain frequencies into the conversation while the conversation isbeing recorded. The inserted tones are done with the tone generatorcircuit 336 (see FIG. 4 discussed infra). In addition to inserting tonesinto a conversation being recorded, the feature pack of the presentinvention allows users to record various rings of the cellular telephoneso that it can recognize when a cellular phone in compartment 104 isreceiving a call. A ring tone detect circuit is able to detect the ringtone resulting from an incoming telephone call.

Actuator 122 is used to store the ring tones as will be discussed infraComponents 352 and 354 are not actuators but are indicators of thestatus of the memory card 338 and the amount of power left in thebattery (326; see FIG. 4) of the feature pack respectively. When thememory card is full, light component 358 is activated indicating to theuser that memory card 338 has reached its capacity. An outline 134 ofthe battery compartment for the feature pack is shown in dashed lines.Finally, two-position actuator 120 when set in an ON position causes acharge circuit 416 of connected to the feature pack to charge thebattery of the feature pack and also the battery of the cellular phonecoupled to the feature pack.

FIG. 3 shows the right side of FIG. 2 where a female RCA jack ispositioned to receive a male counterpart from a headset-microphonedevice connected to the feature pack by a user. All of theaforementioned actuators engage directly the electrical and electroniccircuits residing within voids formed by layers of material. A blockdiagram of such circuits is shown in FIG. 4.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the various circuits of the feature pack areshown. The feature pack is still being described in the context of acellular telephone disposed within compartment 104. In order to fullydescribe the operation of the various circuits of the feature pack, atleast three modes of operation of the feature pack will be discussed.

In a first mode of operation a device such as a cellular telephone isdisposed in compartment 104 of the feature pack and thus such device iscoupled to the feature pack via the male RCA jack 300 and acorresponding female RCA jack (not shown) of the cellular telephone.Also, in this mode of operation, the external headset/mic shown in FIG.4 is not connected to the feature pack of the present invention. Itshould be noted that a portable device such as a cellular telephone mayhave another type of connector with which it connects to externaldevices such as the feature pack. In other cases, the feature pack ofthe present invention will be constructed and designed with a matchingconnector; that is the feature pack design is not limited to only onetype of connector. The connection between the feature pack and thecellular telephone thus disconnects audio and microphone lines of thefemale RCA jack connector (not shown) from circuits within the cellularphone. The signals on the audio line and microphone line of the femaleconnector (not shown) of the cellular telephone are thus available tothe feature pack as those lines are now directly connected to RCA jack300 and are no longer connected to the internal circuitry of thecellular telephone. In interface circuit 308, the microphone line 304 ofthe feature pack is connected to the microphone line of the RCA jack300. Also, audio line 306 of the RCA jack 300, which is now connected tothe audio line of the cellular telephone, is also connected to one endof switch S1 and to the input of Audio/Mic select circuit 324 as shown.Because the external headset and microphone shown in FIG. 4 are notconnected to the feature pack, the detection circuit 314 does not detectany energy on microphone line 318 of the external headset/mic and sendsan appropriate signal to microprocessor 360 via two-way control line364. In response, microprocessor determines that no external headset/micis connected to female RCA jack 310 and thus keeps switch S1 in the openposition as shown.

Continuing with this first mode of operation, in the embodiment shownand considering the discussion above, there are three signals that canbe received by the feature pack of the present invention. They are (i)signals from audio line 306 which are audio signals being received byRCA jack 300 from the cellular telephone disposed in compartment 104 ofthe feature pack; (ii) signals from microphone 304 of the feature pack;because the headset/microphone is not connected to the feature pack,there are no microphone signals on line 318 (no energy detected bydetector 314) and thus microprocessor 360 sends a control signal viacontrol line 402 to select microphone 302 to allow signals frommicrophone 302 to pass through Mic Select circuit 316 to path 320 andonto the input of Audio/Mic select circuit 324; and (iii) Blue Toothsignals received wirelessly by Blue Tooth circuit 332.

In particular, microphone signals from male RCA jack 300 and female RCAjack 310 are fed to Mic Select circuit 316. Because no energy isdetected by Detection circuit 314 Microprocessor 360 receives a signalfrom circuit 314 indicating that the headset and microphone are notconnected (no energy is detected on the microphone line 318; i.e., nosignal from female RCA jack 310) and thus keeps switch S1 open andselects the microphone 302 of the feature pack; that is, signals frommicrophone 302 appear on microphone line 304 and are caused to be routedthrough microphone select circuit 316 onto path 320 to one of the inputsof Audio/Mic Select circuit 324. Signals on Audio line 306, which may beaudio signals from the cellular phone disposed in compartment 104 of thefeature pack, are present at the input to Audio/Mic select circuit 324on path 306. Finally, signals received wirelessly by Blue Tooth circuit332 appear on path 372 and are thus present at the input to Audio/MicSelect circuit 324

Therefore, the input to Audio/Mic Select circuit 324 may be (i) a signalfrom the external device coupled and interfaced with the feature pack,(ii) a wireless signal received by the Blue Tooth circuit 332 or (iii) asignal from the microphone 302 of the feature pack.

Depending on the setting selected by a user of the feature pack foractuator 136, one of the inputs to Audio/Mic select circuit 324 will beselected by microprocessor 306 with the use of a control signal sent bythe microprocessor via control line 368. For example, if the user setsthe Blue Tooth actuator 124 to its ON position, and the Select Inputactuator 136 is set to BT (i.e., Blue Tooth) then the Blue Tooth signalon path 372 will be selected (recorded and stored if actuator 114 is setto ON) and played on either speakers 346, 348 or speaker 350 dependingon the set of speakers selected by the user using actuator 132. If,however, actuator 124 is set to the MIC (microphone) position, thesignal from microphone 302 is selected (recorded and stored if actuator114 is set to ON) and played on either speakers 346, 348 or speaker 350depending on the set of speakers selected by the user through the userof actuator 132. Finally, if actuator 136 is set to AUD (audio), thenthe signal on path 306 is passed through circuit 324 to path 382(recorded and stored if actuator 114 is set to ON) and played on eitherspeakers 346, 348 or speaker 350 depending on the set of speakersselected by the user through the use of actuator 132. The selection ofthe input is done by microprocessor 360, which transmits the propercontrol signal to Audio/Mic Select circuit 324 via control line 368.

It should be noted that in this first mode of operation, thebroadcasting of Blue Tooth signals by Blue Tooth circuit 332 is receivedby any device having Blue Tooth capability and where said device ispaired with the Blue Tooth circuit 332 of the feature pack. The featurepack will automatically pair with nearby Blue Tooth devices, which havebeen loaded with a code associated with the feature pack. In this firstmode, signals received wirelessly are presented onto path 372, recorded,stored and played in real time through the front speaker 350 or the rearstereo speaker 346 and 348. Also, either audio signals on path 306 ormicrophone signals (from headset microphone or microphone 302) on path320 are transmitted to nearby external Blue Tooth-enabled devices. Thefeature pack can be designed so that audio signals from path 306 aretransmitted to nearby Blue Tooth devices and that the microphone signalsare not transmitted by the Blue Tooth circuit 332; this can be a defaultsetting, which can be changes based on user preference.

In the case of interruptions where the feature pack is operating in thefirst mode and an interrupting signal of relatively high priority isreceived, the feature pack may be programmed to a default setting forsuch occurrences. For example, when the device disposed in compartment104 of the feature pack is a cellular phone or any other device withcommunication capabilities and an incoming call has been detected, aring detect circuit 322 will detect the ring and temporarily postponewhatever task, if any, was being performed by the feature pack andanswer the call. The feature pack is able to detect a ring because thering signal will be present on audio line 306, which is directlyconnected to ring detect circuit 322. The various ring signals of thedevice disposed in compartment 104 can be stored in ring detect circuit322 as follows.

Select ring signal button 122 is depressed twice in quick successionsignaling to the feature pack that the user desires to store one or morerings in ring detect circuit 322. The user can then operate the devicein compartment 104 to generate different rings and after each ring, theuser depresses the ring select button 122. This procedure can berepeated as many times as the number of rings that the user desires tostore. The user can then again depress button 122 twice in quicksuccession to signal end of storing of rings. When any of the storedrings are detected, the feature pack selects path 306 using the propercontrol signal on control line 368 to allow the user to participate inthe telephone call. The user can record the phone call by activating 114to the ON position and setting actuator 128 to the ON position so thataudio tones are injected into the conversation notifying the callingparty that the call is being recorded. The user of the feature packpreferably also advises the calling party that the call is beingrecorded in addition to switching ON the Tone Generator 336.

In the second mode of operation, the headset shown is connected to thefeature pack. Still referring to FIG. 4, when the headset is connected(via female RCA jack connector 310; see FIGS. 3 and 4), whether anexternal device is positioned within compartment 104 of the feature packis irrelevant. This is because, once microprocessor 360 receives asignal from Detector circuit 314 indicating that a second microphone hasbeen detected and thus an external Headset/Microphone has been connectedto the feature pack, the feature pack gives priority to the externalheadset. In particular, microprocessor 360 causes switch 51 of inputcircuit 308 to close (by transmitting the proper control signal ontocontrol signal line 362) thus connecting audio line to 306 to theexternal headset. Further, the microphone of the headset is selected bymicroprocessor 360 at Mic Select circuit 316. The user still has thecapability to record either his voice from the use of the headsetmicrophone or any signal on path 306. Either one of these signals can beselected by the user through activation of actuator 136 to the properposition. As with the first mode, the user activates actuator 114 to theON position to do a recording. Also, as with the first mode, an incomingcall will be handled by the feature pack Ring Detect circuit 322detecting a ring signal and then allowing the user to answer the callusing the external headset/microphone. Microprocessor 360 selects path306 in case the user wants to record the call. Again, as with the firstmode, the user preferably switches ON the Tone Generator 336 andnotifies the calling party that the telephone call is being recorded.The recorded call is stored in detachable memory card 338 as previouslydescribed. Upon termination of the telephone call, the feature packreturns to the task, if any, that it was performing immediately prior tothe telephone call.

In a third mode of operation, there is no external device connected tothe feature pack. In this mode, the feature pack can be receivingsignals via the Blue Tooth circuit 332 and may also be used to record auser's voice when the external headset/microphone is connected to thefeature pack. When the headset/microphone is not connected to thefeature pack, the microphone 302 of the feature pack can be used torecord voice signals and other sounds detected by microphone 302.

Referring temporarily to FIG. 2, when actuator 124 is set to ON andactuator 132 is set to BT (for Blue Tooth), and the feature pack ispaired with a nearby device, the signals received via Blue Tooth circuitof FIG. 4 are on path 372, which is one of the inputs to Audio/Micselect circuit 324. Continuing with FIG. 4, when no headset/mic isconnected to the feature pack and actuator 136 is set to BT (for BlueTooth) the Blue Tooth signals are selected by Audio/Mic select circuit324 and such signals appear on path 382 where they may be recorded whenactuator 114 is set to ON. The recorded Blue Tooth signals may then bestored within memory card 338. Also, the Blue Tooth signals on path 382may be amplified by amplifier 330 and applied to either stereo speakers346 and 348 or speaker 350 depending on which set of speakers isselected through the use of actuator 132. Continuing with FIG. 4, if theheadset microphone is connected to the feature pack, then Detectioncircuit 314 will detect energy from the microphone of the headset andsend that information to microprocessor 360. The microprocessor 360 willactivate Mic Select circuit 316 to pass signals from the headsetmicrophone onto path 320, which is another input to Audio/Mic selectcircuit 324. If the actuator 114 is set to ON and actuator 136 is set toMIC, then the signals from the headset microphone are selected (bymicroprocessor 360 sending the proper control signal onto control line368), and thus appear on path 382 to the input of Audio recordingcircuit 334 where they are recorded and stored in memory 338 via path336. A user can thus use the feature pack as a personal recording deviceby its user.

Still continuing with FIG. 4, when the headset/microphone device is notconnected to the feature pack via RCA female jack 310, themicroprocessor 360 selects feature pack microphone 302 (through acontrol signal on control line 402) and all signals (i.e., voice and/orsounds) captured by microphone 302 are transferred onto path 320 andappear at one of the inputs to Audio/Mic Select circuit 324. Whenactuator 136 is set to MIC, the signals from microphone 302 are selectedand pass onto path 382. If actuator 114 is set to ON, then the soundsand/or voices from microphone 302 are recorded and stored in memory card338. It is thus that the feature pack of the present invention can beused to record sounds, voices and other types of audio signals. Forexample, a user at a conference or attending a meeting may use thefeature pack of the present invention to record such events.

Referring now to FIGS. 5-7, another embodiment of the feature pack ofthe present invention is shown. This embodiment operates in much thesame fashion as the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4 including the operation ofthe circuitry disclosed in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 shows a front view of afeature pack having a speaker 212, a microphone 218, a compartment 230,within which a portable device (such as a cellular telephone) can besnugly disposed. The portable device can connect to the feature pack viamale RCA jack 214 or some other connector appropriate for the portabledevice. The feature pack of FIG. 5 also contains connector 216 thatinterfaces with charger 220 comprising a connector at one end and an ACplug at the other end. The feature pack of FIG. 5 further has anextended portion part of which is a rest area 208 for a user's finger.The rest area is directly above an opening 206 through which a user canpass through a chain like object or a string like object to carry thedevice around his/her neck. Speaker 212, is positioned so as to beuseful to users who are hearing impaired. A mechanical switch 200, whichwhen depressed by a user causes light 204 (may be an LED) to illuminatethus serving as a small flashlight to assist users in poorly litsituations, where for example, a user has difficulty inserting his/herkey into a keyhole. The mechanical switch 200 can be accessed throughopening 202. Opening 236 may be used depending on the architecture ofthe portable device residing in compartment 230. For example, opening236 shown in FIG. 6 may be an opening for a camera lens available inmany portable devices such as cellular telephones.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of FIG. 5 showing openings 206, 236 and 202already discussed above. Further, FIG. 6 show an actuator 238 that canbe set by a user of the feature pack to select which speakers he/shewants to use. Stereo speakers 234 and 235 are shown positioned at thebottom of FIG. 6. Speaker 212 can be seen in FIG. 5 where it is shownpositioned at the top of the feature pack. Actuator 210 (also shown inFIG. 5) is a sliding volume control actuator used to control the volumelevel of the speakers. Another view of the volume control is shown inFIG. 7, which shows a left side view of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 also showsopening 228 (also depicted by FIGS. 5 and 6) which is used to store amagnifying glass. The compartment 224 shows the outline of the space 224and a pull out opening 222 providing access to the compartment in whichthe magnifying glass is stored.

While various aspects of the present invention have been describedabove, it should be understood that they have been presented by way ofexample and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled inthe relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail can be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any ofthe above described exemplary aspects, but should be defined only inaccordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

In addition, it should be understood that the figures in theattachments, which highlight the structure, methodology, functionalityand advantages of the present invention, are presented for examplepurposes only. The present invention is sufficiently flexible andconfigurable, such that it may be implemented in ways other than thatshown in the accompanying figures.

1-6. (canceled)
 7. A feature pack comprising: one or more circuitpositioned within the feature pack to receive signals from at least aportable device connected to and interfaced with the feature pack; and aplurality of user accessible actuators coupled to the one or morecircuits to enable the one or more circuits to process the receivedsignals instead of the portable device where the one or more circuitsuse a power source separate and distinct from any power source of theportable device.
 8. The feature pack of claim 7 further comprising amicroprocessor for controlling operation of the one or more circuits andthe plurality of user accessible actuators.
 9. The feature pack of claim1 where the one or more circuits are positioned within voids formed froma material with which the feature pack is made.
 10. The feature pack ofclaim 1 further comprising a first connector to which the portable isconnected.
 11. The feature pack of claim 1 further comprising a secondconnector to which an external headset/microphone device can beconnected.
 12. The feature pack of claim 1 further comprising a secondconnector to which an external headset/microphone device can beconnected.
 13. The feature pack of claim 1 where the first connector isa male RCA connector.
 14. The feature pack of claim 13 where the secondconnector is a female RCA connector.
 15. The feature pack of claim 1where the portable device has a compartment within which the portabledevice is disposed.
 16. The feature pack of claim 15 where the portabledevice is a cellular telephone.
 17. The feature pack of claim 1 furthercomprising an audio recording circuit for recording audio signals fromone of an external device, signals from a telephone conversation whileusing the at least portable device, and audio signal from a user of thefeature pack.
 18. The feature pack of claim 17 further comprising a tonegenerator circuit for inserting tones into the telephone conversationwhile the telephone conversation is being recorded.
 19. The feature packof claim 18 where the tones are inserted in periodic fashion.
 20. Thefeature pack of claim 17 where the audio recording circuit records oneor more ringtones of a cellular phone.
 21. The feature pack of claim 1further comprising a volume control actuator, at least first and secondset of speakers whose volume can be controlled by the volume controlactuator.
 22. The feature pack of claim 21 further comprising anactuator for selecting one of the at least first and second set ofspeakers.
 23. The feature pack of claim 22 further comprising a BlueTooth circuit for transmitting and receiving signals to and from anexternal device paired with the feature pack.
 24. The feature pack ofclaim 1 wherein a cellular telephone is disposed within a compartment ofthe feature pack and is coupled to said feature pack to allow saidfeature pack to operate in a first mode where it receives signals fromone of an audio line received by a connector of the feature pack, amicrophone of the feature pack, and a Blue Tooth circuit for receivingwireless signals.
 25. The feature pack of claim 1 where said featurepack detects an external headset/microphone connected thereto and uponsaid detection, the feature pack operates in a second mode where itprocesses signals received by the headset/microphone from an incomingtelephone call and signals received by the microphone of theheadset/microphone.
 26. The feature pack of claim 1 where said featurepack operates in a third mode by processing signals received wirelesslyby the feature pack or signals received by the feature pack via itsmicrophone or via a microphone of a headset/microphone connected to saidfeature pack.